What, exactly, is a refugee?

One of the ministries that we have been blessed to serve during our free time is Adam House, a Christian-based ministry in Toronto. They provide a safe and comfortable home for newly arrived refugee claimants who have chosen to settle, at least temporarily, in the Greater Toronto area.
There is some confusion about the term "refugee". A refugee is a person who "owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country"[1]. Canada has a policy of being pro-active in helping refugees, and they do it through facilities like Adam House. Once approved, a refugee becomes one of the millions of immigrants welcomed each year to Canada.  On the theme of immigration, I find it interesting that because Canada's immigration quotas are set by the nation's department of labor, rather than by the State department, as in the USA, immigration is a much less controversial issue.

Donna has been able to serve Adam House in her free time by helping with food preparation and serving hot meals to staff and resident. Our son Tim has also been able to lend a hand with nighttime security duties.

Adam House is a great Christian ministry worthy of your prayers and financial support. Check out their webpage at www.adamhouse.org. Also, Check out an earlier blog post that I made that includes a video about two refugees that found hope when they arrived in Canada.

[1] Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refugee

Have you ever sat in a jail cell?

Have you ever experienced sitting in a jail cell, face-to-face with a convicted criminal, with your Bible open on your lap, sharing the love of Jesus and explaining how he or she could have a new start in a relationship with the Creator God? Have you seen, first hand, the tears of joy that come when that same convict repents, accepts God's love, and gains spiritual freedom through faith in Christ? Have you ever had that wonderful experience?
Me neither.
I've read stories about it. I have talked to others who have been there and done that. I've thought that it would be a great thing to do for God. But I have never done it.
Why not?
Because nobody invited me and showed me how to do it. Or they did, but I didn't take them up on the offer.
Same difference. I didn't do it.

Have you ever knocked on the door at the home of a complete stranger -- or of a friend-- and told them about God's love for them? Have you seen their eyes fill with hope and hear them respond with thankfulness when they understood the message? Have you had that wonderful experience?
I have.
I always heard that there was great joy in sharing one's faith and helping another accept it. And now I have done it.
Why?
Because somebody invited me and showed me how to do it. They offered me the opportunity to experience, first hand, something that I would never do on my own. And they stood by my side, teaching me, encouraging me, helping me.
Big Difference. I did it.

Two experiences. Two crucial ministries in the work of proclaiming the gospel to the entire world.
One I missed out on because I didn't find someone to open the way for me. But the other changed the direction of my life. It removed a major hurdle, an unknown, about serving God. It gave me confidence. It started me down the path of full-time ministry.

We are here in Toronto to help others get started down that path. We introduce young Christians to the nitty-gritty of missions work.  We stand by their side. We teach them how to begin. We open doors for them. We encourage them and we are there when they fall, helping them back up. We help them serve God by helping them serve others.

By directing this Volunteer Program, our own ministry horizons are broadened. In early September we brought our youth to serve at a "Community Dinner", serving a hot meal to street people. It was a new, uncomfortable experience for many of them. By doing it, they learned it wasn't so bad. They actually enjoyed serving and want to come back. And an amazing thing happened. We liked it, too, and have made helping to serve this meal part of our regular Wednesday schedule.

This story repeats itself with the other ministries our youth are involved in. Inner-city, after-school programs giving kids an alternative to gangs and drugs. Serving small, immigrant churches by offering retreat facilities for spiritual rest and refreshment. Involvement in pioneer church-planting through serving a missionary family. Adventure camping turned into a spiritual journey.

As we introduce the youth to new ministry experiences, we meet a wide range of ministry leaders. We discuss ways to help them resolve their ministry challenges. Because of the breadth of our contacts, often we are able to help them network with other leaders to resolve their challenges and grow new partnerships. Once again, we are by their side. Sharing common experiences. Helping the Body of Christ grow stronger and more effective in service.

Toronto is the new face of world missions. Toronto is the most ethnically-diverse city in North America. The world is literally at our doorstep. Christians here have a golden opportunity to proclaim the gospel into China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Morocco, India, Brazil simply by sharing their faith with their neighbors! We are equipping those believers, enabling them for ministry, opening doors for service.

Are you waiting for an invitation to try something new for Christ? How about supporting a mission outreach? Why not join us in this ministry? By supporting Liebenzell Mission with your regular financial gifts you start down the path of making a difference for the Kingdom. You allow the work of forming future servants to continue here in Toronto. It is front-line ministry with a world-wide impact.
This is your opportunity.

Pure and Undefiled Religion

As we approach the completion of the house renovation at Bloor-Lansdowne, we have been seeing God work in exciting ways. The week started at worship on Sunday at the Bloor-Lansdowne Christian Fellowship. They are a small inner-city congregation with a BIG heart. On Sunday there were about 15 people in attendance in a sanctuary that seats about 300. The walls could use a coat of paint, and the sound system was acting up. By most external measures, it would appear to be a church in need of some help. While it is true that every church needs each member to lend a hand, the true measure of this church is what goes on when the worship service is over. When the Sunday Morning worship is finished, another congregation uses the facility-- a congregation made up of deaf individuals. At other times during the week, a Portuguese congregation, and later a Spanish congregation use the same facilities to offer praises to the same Lord who understands every language.

Then on Wednesday evenings, the church fills up again. This time, it fills with the grateful chatter of nearly one hundred hungry people who enjoy the hospitality the church offers during their "Community Dinner". Dignity, Love and Respect are on the menu here. It is not a "soup kitchen". It is not a "food giveaway". It is a community dinner. Free to all who enter. It is a hot meal personally served at the table to every person that walks in the door. It is fellowship and friendly conversation with anyone who desires it. It is a gift of a week's supply of bread to those who ask. It is an hour's worth of entertainment by a talented folk singer. It is an evening of dignity displayed toward any person that enters. No questions asked except one: "Can we serve you?"

The contrast between Sunday and Wednesday is striking. On Sunday, fifteen people humbly bowing their heads and praying to the Father and listening to teaching from God's Word. On Wednesday, those same people reaching out to scores of needy people with a hot meal and the Love of Jesus. It is a ministry of love that quietly speaks volumes directly into the lives of the neediest people of Toronto. And I think Jesus smiles down on the Bloor-Lansdowne Christian Fellowship.

James 1:27: "Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

Volunteers Meet Volunteers!

We had a "crossover" of sorts during our orientation program. A Liebenzell "Impact" team was finishing their 3-month term of service while our Student Volunteer program was just getting off the ground. We met one morning for breakfast and devotions at the Liebenzell Mission Center in Moffat.

The Impact team consisted of a group of 8 young people from Germany serving in both the United States and Canada, travelling as a group and helping churches and other Christian ministries in various ways. On the morning of their arrival they were on their way back to the United States after a several weeks in Canada. They were a great encouragement to the volunteers newly arrived from Germany. They answered lots of questions about life and ministry in Toronto.

September Newsletter

Daniel, Marisa, Dominic, Marlen, Uli, Micha, and Simon-- pictured here during our recent Volunteer Orientation sessions -- are all serving with UrbanPromise Toronto. They will be helping run after-school programs in the inner-city of Toronto giving children safe, fun, and relationship-building alternatives to life on the streets. These seven, along with ten other young German students, are now under our pastoral oversight as we have begun the ministry of the International Student Volunteer Program. Each one brings an energy and passion that is having an impact on the lives of people throughout the Greater Toronto, Canada area.

Here's a breakdown of where they are serving:

• Seven are in the inner city of Toronto with UrbanPromise.
• One is providing child care for  a missionary family that serves a Bangladeshi community in Toronto.
• Two are serving local churches in Milton, a suburb of Toronto.
• Five are in the northern lakes region of Ontario at Christian camps that provide grade-school Outdoor Education programs.
• Two are serving at the Liebenzell Center in Moffat Ontario, providing a place for immigrant churches to gather and refresh far from the city noise and distraction.

Each one of these areas forms part of the vision of Liebenzell Mission of Canada to provide "Strategic Patnerships to Cross Barriers". In Canada, Liebenzell embraces opportunities and builds strategic partnerships to cross socio-economic and cultural barriers with the love of God. With each ministry served, we are bringing the larger Christian community together in love and service.

A Fast Start

 Donna and I arrived in Ontario, Canada on Sunday evening, August 15th, after a short drive from central New York. It was quite strange arriving in a new mission field after such a short trip! No airports, no long flights. Still, we had to face the important task of getting our visa documents approved at the border. Thankfully, that step went smoothly and in less than half an hour we were in!

But we had to hit the Canadian soil running because we had less than 2 weeks to get ready for the arrival of the 17 young people that will spend the year here. Our initial task was to prepare the agenda for 9 days of training, meals, and activities. Our Liebenzell team is made up of the Mission Center Caretakers, Jeff and Ursi Wilson, who are on just their second year of service here; and Jakob and Lori Koch, the Mission Directors, who have 10 years of experience running this program. We met together often during those initial days to share experiences, expectations, and resources. By the time the airplane carrying the exuberant youth landed at the Toronto airport, we were ready for them.

Eight days later, when orientation was over, we rejoiced in how far we had come in learning their names, their stories, and their passions for serving God. They moved into their ministry locations throughout the province of Ontario united in purpose and ready for hands-on service to God. Please take a moment to read some of the daily episodes of their orientation in our blog:VolunteerYearToronto. The blog really is a key conduit to news about our ministry. We post pictures and news updates several times a week.  Facebook  has opened up a new avenue of 2-way conversation. If you have a Facebook account, please look for our "VolunteerYearToronto" page and make a "Like" link.

 

Giving to the Lord's work

"We must be global Christians with a global vision because our God is a global God." - John Stott

There is no getting around the fact that our ministry is dependent on donations. Even during these uncertain financial times, Christian mission continues. The work of Liebenzell continues today by leaning solely on the Lord in prayer for support through individuals and churches.  Would you consider a gift today? Online donationsare now possible through the Liebenzell USA website,mission.liebenzellusa.org.

Would you help us raise an additional $800 per month to reach the next level of our support? Currently we are at a basic level that barely meets our monthly expenses of food, lodging, and transportation. While our current support level allows us to carry on our ministry, it provides no margin for inflation, emergencies, or budget upsets. Thanks for your help.

Contributions by check should be made out to "Liebenzell Mission USA" and sent to :

Liebenzell Mission USA

P.O. Box 66

Schooley's Mtn, NJ 07870.

Include a note in the envelope indicating the words: "For the ministry of Gregg and Donna Hanchett".

Bloor-Lansdowne Christian Fellowship House

During our first weeks in Canada, we have been staying at the Mission Center, the Liebenzell Canada headquarters about an hour outside of Toronto. In the next several weeks we will be making the transition to a ministry house near downtown Toronto, currently undergoing renovation. It is very convenient to the transit system subway and city buses.  The house is owned by a local church and is being rented by Liebenzell so that we will have a central location from which we can minister to the volunteers. It will also allow us to bless the neighborhood by sharing the love of Christ in our daily lives. The church, Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship, also shares its facility with three other congregations-- one Spanish, one Portuguese, and a deaf congregation. On Wednesday it opens it doors and serves a "Community Dinner" to the poor and underprivileged in the area, free to all who enter. We have already been able to help on two occasions during our short time here.

Would you pray specifically for this aspect of our ministry? We believe strongly that the Lord wants us in this strategic downtown location during our time in Toronto. Our immediate need is to finish the renovation. Several local believers are helping with drywall, plumbing, and painting, however there are no funds available to purchase flooring materials. We have been scouring the area for deals on any type of  flooring and have found a few great deals. Any donations designated towards these finishing touches would be wonderful! We hope to relocate to this house-- finished floors or not-- by the end of Sepember. Thanks for praying-- and giving if you can!

Meanwhile, you can contact us at the Liebenzell Canada address: 12168 First Line, R.R. #1, Moffat, ON, Canada. Postal Code: L0P 1J0. My cell phone number is 647-746-6893. Gregg's Email is hanch6@gmail.com. Donna's Email is etjah6@yahoo.com.